Beautiful machine. Versatile and maneuverable with a clear view of the hitch and implements. Almost made it to market when Tenneco took over and dropped the 50 and 70 series. The UAW killed IH. The 6 month strike made parts unavailable and put red tractors out of comission accross the nation and around the world. Unable to repair the IHs farmers had to go with other makes and when the strike was over alot of them didn't come back. Burning cash and selling assets like Solar and with Australian operations in receivership, IH was forced to accept Tenneco's offer and the 50s and 70s were no more. Still have a hard time thinking about it.
Not many of these ever made it to Mississippi! My dad bought 2 3588s in 1979. Our "voids between the steering wheel and the seat" destroyed them. I think a 5488, was the last "new" IH he ever bought, before changing over to John Deere.
@farmalltom How was the transmission and shifting set up for that 70 series? We had a 3388 and it was great to run, but I never liked shifting it and we always had problems with the TA. The rumor was that the 70 series fixed a lot of the transmission problems but due to being bought out by Case the 70 series barely saw the light of day. Personally, if IH could have worked the kinks out earlier, we would be driving these types of tractors instead of MFWD. The design is remarkably simple.
Wonder if Case has any thoughts of reintroducing the 2+2 Anteater as a rubber track version to compete with the newly released John Deere 8RX 4 track row crop tractors?
@kawasaki12789 With a comment like that, It's difficult for me to believe that you have REALLY used one. I've run a couple of them and, after getting used to the configuration, I thought they were exceptionally handy and maneuverable for their size. Heck, I've even actually driven a 7488 and count it as a lifetime experience!
so the tractor in the video is a 7288? but it looks identicle to my dads tractor which is a 3588? did IH make 2 different series of these things or what cause i'm a tad confused.
@@farmallskittle plus the front axle was a new design, heavier duty than before and now rated for duals. The front axle was also moved 5 1/2" further forward on the front frame, so that the front and rear wheels wouldn't foul during a turn.
Sounds about right. Collectors items now, on that account. Tri Six gearbox, new front axle now rated for dual wheels and moved 5 1/2" further forward on the front frame so that the front and rear wheels didn't foul on each other during a turn. An absolute travesty that they got cancelled after Tenneco bought IH. They were better than Case. So much so, that subsequent Case IH tractors actually used a lot of IH transaxle components, perticularly in the gearbox department.
